Identifying and Advocating Best Practices in the Criminal Justice System. A Texas-Centric Examination of Current Conditions, Reform Initiatives, and Emerging Issues with a Special Emphasis on Capital Punishment.

Monday, 07 February 2011

Tim Adams' Case for Clemency

Attorneys for Texas death-row inmate Timothy Adams are set to file clemency papers in the case today.

Adams is scheduled to be executed on Feb. 22 for the shooting death of his 19-month-old son during a domestic dispute. The case triggered strong emotions because of the young age of the victim, and it is complicated by the fact that the family of the murderer is also among the family of the victim. Adams' relatives claim their voices were not heard in the sentencing decision.

Timothy's brother, Chadrick Adams, is a teacher in Houston who says they don't want to lose another family member because of the tragedy.

"It is in our deepest hopes and prayers that the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole, and Gov. Rick Perry, will hear us now. Timothy committed a horrible act, but our grief will only be worsened if he is executed."

The family wants to see Timothy serve life in prison with no chance of parole - a sentencing option that was not available during the trial. Surviving maternal family members said during the trial that they would live in fear if Timothy were to be released.

The clemency filing details Adams' Army career and the fact that he had no previous criminal record. The filing also includes sworn statements from three jurors who say they were not provided a complete picture of Adams' character and background. They want the sentence changed to life in prison without parole.

The clemency petition, filed with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, is in Adobe .pdf format.

(Austin, Texas) Attorneys for Tim Adams filed a clemency petition today urging the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to vote to spare Mr. Adams’ life and to ask Governor Rick Perry to commute his death sentence to life in prison without parole. Mr. Adams is an army veteran with no criminal history, not even an arrest, until he snapped and killed his son while planning his suicide in 2002. His execution is scheduled for February 22.

“Our family lost one child. We can’t bear to lose another. After my grandson’s death, we lived through pain worse than anyone could imagine. Nothing good will come from executing my son Tim and causing us more anguish,” said Columbus Adams, Mr. Adams’ father and a 30 year veteran of the Houston Fire Department. “We pray that God will fill Governor Perry’s heart with compassion. If not for Tim, then at least for our family.”

Three jurors from Mr. Adams’ trial, Rebecca Hayes, Ngoc Duong, and Kathryn Starling, have come forward to request a commutation of Mr. Adams’ death sentence to one of life. They believe they were not presented at trial with a complete picture of Mr. Adams’ character and religious background.

Mr. Adams is loved and supported by members of his church, work supervisors, fellow soldiers from the military, and many others. For example:

Mr. Adams was raised in a Christian home and was active member of New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Houston. His Sunday school teacher, Verlene Edmond, remembers Mr. Adams as “quiet” and “polite” as a teenager and supports a commutation of Mr. Adams’ sentence.

When Mr. Adams graduated from high school, he enlisted in the army and served his country. Mr. Adams’ friend Roger West, now a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army and Purple Heart recipient, said that he wishes he could have “a whole platoon of guys like Tim.” Mr. Adams was honorably discharged in 1989.

Mr. Adams was always a hard worker who wanted to support his young family. He worked as a security guard at Greenway Plaza in Houston. He was such a good worker that he was quickly promoted to supervisor of all security shifts. Tim’s supervisor, Diane Garcia, received “many, many positive comments and feedback on Tim’s performance.”

Mr. Adams was a role model to his younger siblings. Chadrick Adams, Mr. Adams’ brother, said his older brother taught him his work ethic and inspired him to earn a scholarship to and graduate from college. Chadrick Adams is a teacher in Houston.

From the beginning, Mr. Adams accepted responsibility for what he did. He pleaded guilty in open court and before the jury, even though he was not offered anything in return for his plea.

Mr. Adams has spent his time on death row reflecting on what he did, seeking forgiveness from his family, friends and God, and deepening his faith in Jesus Christ. He has been a model prisoner without a single disciplinary write-up on his record – not even for a minor infraction – during his eight years in prison.

Mr. Adams is not a danger to anyone and never will be. If the Governor commutes his death sentence, he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

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The StandDown Texas Project

The StandDown Texas Project was organized in 2000 to advocate a moratorium on executions and a state-sponsored review of Texas' application of the death penalty.
To stand down is to go off duty temporarily, especially to review safety procedures.

Steve Hall

Project Director Steve Hall was chief of staff to the Attorney General of Texas from 1983-1991; he was an administrator of the Texas Resource Center from 1993-1995. He has worked for the U.S. Congress and several Texas legislators. Hall is a former journalist.